Read this book!

My old mate, Graham Davies, has come up with a humdinger of a book (I believe 'humdinger' is a popular expression amongst the young). Sadly, it has a rubbish title which will doubtless adversely impact his sales, but once you get past that, the content is brilliant.

BTW Don't 'click to look inside'. I copied the pic from Amazon 'cos my scanner has packed up and, of course, the link doesn't work.

If you do not know Graham, he is one of the country's foremost (and funniest) business speakers. And he has one of the best contracts in the western world; as he should have, being a barrister. I think 'barrister' is what they were calling him anyway.

The Presentation Coach, published by Capstone, is being featured by WHSmith Travel as one of their Top 20 business books. It is written in Graham's punchy, assertive and entertaining style and forcefully attacks all the old presentational clichés. It is certainly not something that should be read by the faint-hearted.


Essentially, the book shows you how to Say It, Support It....and Shut it. The distinctive bare knuckle approach is one that can be used no matter what presentational situation you are in, says Graham .... whether it's a Boardroom, Ballroom or Broadcast Studio. I would add only Bordello to the list.

This is a set of techniques that Graham has used to coach a host of CEOs, Politicians and Celebrities.....and these clients  have given the book a spectacular collection of endorsements. None as spectacular or effective as mine, and I'm not getting any commission. Or even a complimentary copy!

If you need to talk to groups (and who doesn't) you should read this book.

And you should also join your local Toastmasters speaking club. Go to http://www.toastmasters.org/ to find out where it is. This organisation is the dog's thingys when it comes to improving your communication skills, no matter how terrifed and inexperienced or how confident and experienced you may be. And they don't pay me commission either!

Never too old - the end of the road?

Well, here we are; I've touched 12:5.0 (as in just after a bike ride, before breakfast and with one foot on the scales).
Not really - both feet were on but I did breathe out 'cos air has a weight.

And now I must call a halt to my attempt to get down to 12 stones. why? Pressure from my female fans.She they say I am getting too skinny. And I have to admit I looked in the mirror the other day and wondered who the haggard old man was.

So I shall settle for 12:7 ish and think myself lucky - for now. I guess that will give me more time to bitch about the people and companies who upset me. Actually only Santander at the moment, though Ed Milliband becomes more irritating day by day.

For now, savour this 'final' picture of the magnificent specimen I have become

Never too old - 12

12:7.0

This is getting hard!

I've really been trying this week and only managed to slice off 1.4 pounds. Obviously I have not been trying hard enough!

However, always look on the bright side of life (da dum da dum ...), I am considerably less portly that I was in July and  still have a couple of weeks to go.

Apologies for picture quality - the boss went out at the crack of dawn and she usually takes them!

Never too old - 11

12:8.4

Not good enough! I only have 21 days to go; that's 3 weeks and, at 1 pound a week (last week was 12:9.4) I'll be way off. So, despite the long days on set (did I mention I'm a movie star more than several times?) when I cannot fit in my exercise/cycling, I am aiming to drop 0:3.0 per week. Looks like lots of salad and no biccies!

Pics are looking better though: